FAL (Free Art License), Taxiarchos228, Wikimedia CommonsHike· Nisyros· Greece — Dodecanese, Sporades & North Aegean
Stefanos Crater (Nisyros)
36° 34.7′ N · 27° 10.1′ E
Walk down onto the floor of one of the largest hydrothermal craters in the world, 260 x 350 m and 27 m deep, where yellow sulphur crystals crust hissing fumaroles. It is the signature day ashore in the Dodecanese.
Practical
Inside Nisyros's caldera (about 3.6 km across) on the Lakki plain, about 110 m above sea level (Nisyros UNESCO Global Geopark). A path leads to the crater floor; ticket price was 3 EUR in 2018, free if you hike in (Wikivoyage; verify locally). Arrive before the day-trip crowds, around 11 am, and there is a small shaded cafe at the entrance (Wikivoyage). Geopark route 'Caldera-Lakki' continues to the post-caldera craters of Alexandros (Flegethron), Megalos and Mikros Polyvotis and Logothetis. Hike from Mandraki or Nikia (half a day), or rent a scooter in Pali or Mandraki; there is a bus and very few taxis. Last eruption: a steam explosion in 1888 (Wikipedia).
Best for
The volcano: the reason to come to Nisyros
Season
Year-round; go early in summer
Nearby
- Nikia Village & Volcano Viewpoint (Nisyros)0.5 NM away
- Grana Bay & Avlaki (Nisyros)1.3 NM away
- Balkoni Taverna (Emporeios, Nisyros)1.6 NM away
- Emporeios Village (Nisyros)1.6 NM away
- Evaggelistria–Emporeios Trail (Nisyros)1.6 NM away
- Lies Beach (Nisyros)2.1 NM away
- Pachia Ammos Beach (Nisyros)2.1 NM away
- Loutra & Pali Thermal Baths (Nisyros)2.2 NM away